title: Lingual neurofibroma causing dysaesthesia of the tongue.
abstract: Neurofibroma is a benign tumour derived from the neural sheaths of peripheral nerves and composed of Schwann cells, fibroblast-like cells and intermediate cells. The usual clinical presentation of an oral neurofibroma is swelling. A 62-year-old woman was referred to our department of otorhinolaryngology with irritation and dysaesthesia of the lateral aspect of the tongue. The only finding was a slightly red area from which a biopsy was taken. The macroscopic findings observed by the surgeon were consistent with normal tongue tissue. The histopathological examination showed a small, rounded tumour closely approximated to an invagination of the surface epithelium and with a small lymphatic infiltrate. The tumour was a neurofibroma. A Schwannoma type B was considered but the presence of small nerves and positive neurofilament reaction favoured a neurofibroma. The patient had no other neurofibromas or skin lesions. At a 3-week follow-up visit all symptoms had resolved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology of Head and Neck Surgery, Hilleroed Hospital, Hillerød, Denmark.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lykke
authors.forename: Tove
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Noergaard
authors.forename: Eva Rye
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009455:Neurofibroma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010292:Paresthesia / Q000209:etiology*; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery